You guesed it... I just failed emissions (whats new). At least now I have some results that I can work w/. Let me tell you all I have done.

New: NGK plugs, wires, dizzy cap and rotor, fuel filter, oil filter, oil, air filter. I also did the ATF treatment and put some guarantee pass stuff in the gas.

The rest of the car is basicly stock.. it's an 85 GSL-SE.

HYDROCARBONS (HC) IN GRAMS/MILE mine = 4.60 standard = 2.40
CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) IN GRAMS/MILE mine = 78.54 standard = 20.00

everything else passed no problmes. Now I need your guys help to find out whats wrong. I'm thinking it might be the CAT(s). I checked and the air line is still going to it... I donno how to test the air line to see if it's getting air in there or not but my guess is even if it is... after 16 years.. the cat(s) are prob shot.

If I were to replace the cats (remembering I live in AZ w/ these crappy emissions stuff) what should I replace them w/. Any company out there make a high-flow cat for the GSL-SE that are emissions happy?

 

I got a single replacement cat from mineke...worked out great...

 

Generic replacement cats might not last very long depending on how you drive and the quality of the cat.

BUT... if you were to bolt in the cat for a few days to pass emissions, then bolt in a straight pipe (or, say, the gutted original cat for cheapness's sake) so that you don't burn out your "good" cat for the rest of the time. See, that way you'd be helping the environment by not wasting any precious platinum or palladium when you ruin a cat.

- PJ (I can justify ANYTHING)

 

If I replace my cat I figure I'll do it right....

odd... I would have guessed more responses thats ok... I've been looking around and I was wondering who here has the rx7.com's bonez high flow cat.

Any problems w/ backpressure for the other ports on the SE? Any known problems w/ aftermarket mufflers? Any problems in general?!

and my BIGGEST question.... do you think if I replace my CAT(s) that I will pass emissions? or should I find a shop in town (hmmm that could be a hard one) that can adjust my car (after I get the cat) to pass emissions? Honestly I have no clue what causes me to go over on HC and CO...

TIA... Chris

 

i have a r.p high flow and my 83 l.e blew almost 25% of the #'s to be legal so i think it was well worth the $

 

Adjusting the fuel mix on mine made it pass but it was carbed as yours is not, so I do not know if it will help.

 

The only problem with the Bonez single cat replacement, is that some places (like Cali) require you to have the OEM exhaust system (i.e. 3 cats), regardless of the actual emission output.

However most states don't care how many cats are on the car, as long as the emissions are low.



-Spencer

 

Ya... I'm sure (or quite sure) they don't do a visual check here in AZ. At least I didn't see anyone TRY and get under my car and see

Thank for your input guys.. I'm gonna order my Bönez High flow Cat first thing tommorow morning. Hmm... I might even order my Bönez Street-Comp Intake Kit while I'm at it.

 

Yeah, we don't have visuals here either, which is a good thing becuase my next upgrade is the Mazdatrix 'grey-area' exhaust setup.

 

Highly reccomend the Cat, and good luck getting the intake Kit. I tried a few weeks back, but apparantly they have to pull a coolant tank bracket off a 12a car and then do some fab work on it, and they don't have any in stock... And weren't planning to for awhile. Let me know if they have one in..

 

BAH!.... your right... just ordered the cat and sure enough, they are out of the air kits. Coolant tank bracket shortage... heck I'll go to a junk yard and ship them a bracket *shrug* O well... at least (hopefully) the cat will be here this week which means I get to try emissions again on saturday. Then it's off to meet the local reX club at the car show sat night.

 

He he, AZ_lynx. I just purchased one not to long ago, but am now worrying about the CARB legality of the whole thing as we speak. I am hoping they don't do a visual, as if I replace my cat with the Bonez Hi Flow I should blow clean numbers. We'll see how good ol "Cali emissions ****'s" smog laws run at a shop down the street from me. I only wish I lived in AZ anymore.

Talk to you all later,
Chris

 

I wouldn't waste money on the Bonez intake, they overcharge like **** for just a couple brackets, a K&N, and an adapter.

 

I've got the bonez high flow cat and intake. The intake isn't worth the $$ you pay for it, when you can fab your own (see rx7.voodoobox.net I believe, Dave's got a link on how to make a plate to fit your AFM w/ a 2nd gen K&N filter) The Cat, however is definatly worth it. Backpressure is plenty even w/o a muffler on there, it's only slightly louder than stock (and I've got a leak at the manifold and at the muffler) it's straight bolt on and replaces all 3 cats. It also is pretty much guaranteed to hold up to the high heat rotary exhaust. It stank for a little while, but I was burning the packing tape off it

--matt

 

I know emissions is more lax in AZ than here and I've never had a problem getting a sticker. Instead of expensive repairs and hunting through your car for hours, just carry a fifty (maybe you could get away with a twenty) when you try to get is smogged. *wink*

 

Thanks so much for that site... I had never seen it before and it has the fix for the oil cooler problem I have! Sweet... I was told by the old owner that it couldn't be welded and I just got under to see what the problem was the other day... and sure enough, the neck has a hairline crack in it. Time to pull my oil cooler!

 

All you need to, if hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide is out of whack, is bypass the ACV and run the fresh air pipe from the cat directly to the air pump. I don't know how old the cat on my '82 is (i bought it '97 with the same cat) and after I did this quick fix, it passed with flying colors. Plus, I have a Yaw carb and all of my other emmissions devices are disabled. I almost guarrantee that it'll work and it's a hell of alot cheaper than a cat. You won't regret it, I swear.

Mike